This is the third story submitted by Lexie Lawless. I hope you like these stories and please contact Ryan and I to tell us how you like our stories and share your stories.
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Spotlights illuminated the long, white marble countertop of the bar. The bartender, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, quietly washed glasses in the bar sink. At the end of the bar, a female customer in a light gray business suit sits idly swirling her martini in its glass. It was that in between time of the day for the bar, like the dusk between light and dark. The evening crowd wouldn’t wander in for another hour or two and the last of the lunch crowd had left. The rest of the bar was vacant and dark.
As he set the wet glasses on the counter to dry, the bartender snuck glances at his silent customer. She was tall and thin, a nearly perfect body hidden beneath her conservative suit. The suit jacket was cut like a man’s suit coat and she wore a short pleated skirt. Underneath she had on white hose and flat shoes. Her hair was long and dark, raven colored, crisply pulled back in a severe, professional look.
She sat rigid in her chair. Her only movement was her eyes flicking up occasionally to look at the television set hanging over the bar. Otherwise, she was mesmerized by her martini. The bartender wondered what would make such a lovely young woman so aloof and alone. He gave up making small talk. Other than re-filling her martini, he left her alone.
Two young men burst unexpectedly into the bar. They were young businessmen in dark suits, starched white shirts and power ties. Serious young warriors of the business world, just in from their first conquest. Animatedly they congratulated each other on the real estate closing that they had just attended. It was clear that a big deal had just been closed and the young men were in the mood to celebrate.
The bartender greeted them as they entered the bar. The woman swirled her martini without looking up.
They picked a table near the bar, but not too close. Instinctively they knew that the woman at the bar was more agreeable to the eye than to the heart. Both men stole glances of her while they began their celebration. Turned slightly sideways in her chair, her long legs were impressive. She was stunning, but unapproachable.
The young turks started with vodka martinis, Absolut of course. Chatting and laughing, they consumed several martinis, talking about everything from the deal which they had just closed to sports to women. The bar remained empty, but for the two men, the girl and the bartender.
After the third round, the topic turned to their options for the evening. After the martini load they had taken on, and the lack of even so much as a glance from the girl, they were preparing to shower and prepare for a night out on the town.
After the bartender delivered what they noisily announced as their fourth and last martini, the young woman appeared at their table.
“May I join you?” She said.
She was stunning. Her complexion was dark and smooth. A natural beauty.
Pulling up a chair without waiting for an answer, she introduced herself. Extending her hand to the closest man, she said. “Call me Mona. I’m not going to tell you my real name. You will never see me again after today. If you want to be my real life fantasy buy me a drink and tell me your names.?”
The nearest man to her reached out and shook her hand. She had a firm, dry handshake. “My name is Jeff. This is my business partner Dave.”
Jeff was medium height, but was broad through the chest and shoulders. He had sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. His pale complexion was dotted with freckles all over his nearly hairless body.
Dave was taller and had a dark complexion. Not as athletically built as Jeff, but handsome all the same. He wore a full beard, speckled with red and black tones.
